Flagstaff



Sept. 23, 1958 V w. R. MEADE 2,853,046

FLAGSTAFF Filed Sept. 10, 1956 WI 42 "/7 S W Y 20 I yZ I 4 m. aa

v F a J] s A MEMBER 0F THE FIRM United, States Patent 2,853,046 I FLAGSTAFF Walden R. Meade, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 10, 1956, Serial No. 608,872 1 Claim. (Cl. 116-173) This invention relates to a flagstafi for mounting a flag on the mast of a ship or the like. Flags are ordinarily mounted on a halyard and run to the top of the mast. When flags are mounted in this manner, they frequently become twisted around the mast and rigging and look unsightly, as well as becoming worn and torn.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for flying a flag, pennant or the like from a mast wherein means are provided whereby the flagstaflf can pivot freely and will therefore look neat at all times, and will not become twisted around the mast. I am aware that others have proposed somewhat similar devices in the past, but such devices have tended to be top-heavy and look unsightly. I have solved the top-heaviness problem by providing a structure wherein a hollow submast is provided which is easily hauled to the top of a mast which has a rotatable flagstaif extending. therefrom and wherein the rotatable flagstafl constitutes not over one-third the height of the entire structure while the submast constitutes the other two-thirds. Further, a clamp is provided on the mast into which the submast can lock, thereby adding greatly to the stability of the structure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to prowide a flagstaff to which a flag may be attached and wherein the flag can rotate freely on the staff and not become fouled on the staif.

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure having a relatively long submast and a relatively short, thin staif of light construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable stafi which may be readily changed to suit flags of different heights.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mast having a clamp thereon capable of locking the submast into fixed position.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a mast having the submast of the present invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the submast shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the interrelationship of the tubular support and statt at the point whereat the two are joined.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters there is shown a mast 6 having a. cleat 8 at the bottom thereof, an up-halyard 10, and a down-halyard 12. The up-halyard 10 passes over a sheave 14. The submast of the present invention has been generally designated 16 and consists of an elongated tubular structure 18, preferably made of a light metal such as aluminum alloy. Member 18 has an upper becket 17 and at the bottom has a collar 21 with an opening 19 therein. Protruding from the member 18 is a staif 20, having an ornament 22 at the top and an upper becket 24 and a lower becket 26. For accommodating flags of different sizes, the lower becket 26 may be adjusted to various positions such as at 28 "ice and 30. The adjustment of the lower becket 26 is made possible due to the fact that the staff is suitably tapped at points 30 and 28 such that the becket may be removed tom the point shown in Figure 2 and screwed in place at point 28 or 30.

Referring now particularly to Figure 3, the staif 20 fits into the submast 18 through a collar 32, which is secured as by a set screw 34. The stafi has attached thereto a collar 36, which is secured by the set screw 38. The set screw itself is shown'in Figure 3 while the set screw may be reached through an access hole provided therefor as shown in Figure 2. The set screw may be reached through the access hole by simply rotating the mast until such time as the two are coincident, that is, until the set screw appears directly beneath the access hole. Thus, the staff 20 is prevented from lifting out of the submast 18, but can rotate readily therein. The upper portion of the mast 20 is provided with ball bearings 40 having suitable races and being secured by means of set screws 42. The lower end of the stafi 20 terminates in a plug 44, which has been recessed to receive a steel ball 46, which fits into a similar recess in the plug 48. The plug 48 is secured in place by means of the set screws 50.

The submast 18 has a series of holes 52, 54 and 56 therein, so that the plug 48 may be located at different levels, depending on whether a long or a short flag is to be flown. For instance, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the plug 48 would be set at the hole 52 while the lower becket is at 26. In the event a shorter flag is to be flown, the plug 48 would be set in the opening 50,- while the becket would be moved to 28 and if an extremely short .flag were to be flown, the lower becket would be moved to point 30, while the plug would be moved to point 56. Of course, appropriate changes would also be made in the collar 36 by loosening the set screw 38 and setting it in any desired new position.

Referring now specifically to Figure 4, there is shown a clamp, generally designated 56, which has a split ring and is held by the bolts 58 on the mast 6. The clamp 56 has a recess 60 and a restricted opening 62. The submast 18 can be readily pulled into the clamp 56 by suitable movement on the down-haul halyard. By pulling out on the down-haul halyard, the staff 18 can be pulled out of the clamp.

In use, it is only necessary to attach the flag to the beckets 24 and 26, first setting the lower becket in the desired position, and having the plug 48 and the collar 36 in appropriate positions for the heighth of the flag. The uphaul halyard is then attached to the becket 17 of the submast and the down-haul halyard is passed through the opening 19. The flag is then pulled up the mast in the conventional manner and the up-haul halyard 10 made fast to the cleat 8. The down-haul halyard 12 is then maneuvered so that the staff 18 will be engaged in the clamp 56 and the down-haul halyard then also secured to the cleat 8. In this way, a completely ship-shape flag hoist is provided wherein the flag will be blown around by the slightest breeze and will have no tendency to wrap around the staff due to the fact that the stafi may revolve very easily.

, I claim: I

. A sub-mast for holding a flag, said sub-mast comprising: a hollow tubular body portion having a plug fixedly secured therein at a point spaced from one end thereof, said plug having an indentation therein for receipt of a ball; a staif of reduced diameter mounted telescopically within said hollow tubular body having an indentation at the lower end thereof for receipt of a ball; a ball supported by said plug serving to support said stafi and extending into the indentations of both said plug and said stafl; means positioned between the upper end of said hollow tubular body and said staff for supporting said stafi alongthe sidesthereof, said means comprising a collar fixedly secured to the sides of said hollowutubular ball bearings, therebetween whereby said collars are maintained in a spaced relationship and said staif isallowed to rotate freely with respect-to said hollow .tubularbody; a second collar secured to said staff in the area above-said first collar, and another collar fixedly. secured tothetopbeckets secured to said staff portion for mounting a flag thereon and beckets securedto said hollow tubular body for fastening halyards to either end of said tubularbody, the height of said body portion being at least twice that d of the stafi portion, said body portion normally being frictionally secured-at.a point adjacent the base thereof in a clamp fixedly secured to a supporting mast.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 232,461 Coolbaugh Sept. 21, 1880 289,976 Center Dec. 11, 1883 1,134,002 Olstad Mar. 30, 1915 1,575,040 Crum Mar. 2, 1926 2,120,828 Barcy June 14, 1938 2,686,029 Raymond Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 454,606 Germany Jan. 13, 1928 

